Informal Commands ("Tú")
When you want to tell a friend or family member what to do, use an informal command. For regular verbs, the tú command is identical to the él/ella/usted form in the present tense. Just drop the -s from the normal tú form!
- For -ar verbs, the ending is -a.
- For -er and -ir verbs, the ending is -e.
| Peel the tomato, please. | Pela el tomate, por favor. |
| Beat the eggs for breakfast. | Bate los huevos para el desayuno. |
| Mix the tomato and the onion. | Mezcla el tomate y la cebolla. |
Formal Commands ("Usted")
To give instructions formally—such as a chef guiding an apprentice, or addressing someone respectfully—use the usted command.
To form regular usted commands, swap the vowels! Use the "opposite" vowel from the infinitive ending:
- For -ar verbs, the ending is -e.
- For -er and -ir verbs, the ending is -a.
| Verb ending | Tú Command | Usted Command |
|---|---|---|
| -ar (cortar) | corta | corte |
| -er / -ir (batir) | bate | bata |
| Cut the onion with that knife. | Corte la cebolla con ese cuchillo. |
| Sir, add the salt to the soup. | Señor, añada la sal a la sopa. |
| Ma'am, mix the salad. | Señora, mezcle la ensalada. |
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